“Yes...about how much I love you.” Smiling, I lean forward and force myself to only give him a light kiss on his lips. “Lots more of those later, Professor Lawrence.” The smile he gives me reaches his eyes, just as th
e door at the back of the auditorium crashes open.
Sawyer quickly sits behind the desk so of course my gaze immediately goes to his groin. I smirk when I see the bulge that he rearranges before getting to his feet again. “Are you okay if I head to my office?”
I’m tempted to ask him to stay, but I can see that he needs a few minutes to calm down, so I answer, “I’ll be fine now.” I blow him a kiss out of view of the filling room.
“My office when you’ve finished here, Ms. Foster.” He moves slightly closer, and whispers, “You sure that you’re alright?”
“I’m fine now...really,” I reassure with a wink, and turn away before I give in to temptation and wrap my arms around him.
“Professor Lawrence, may I have word?”
Hearing those words out of her mouth grates on my nerves and causes my hands to twitch. I tell myself not to look behind me, but it’s difficult as hell to ignore the Professor Long.
Sawyer is a nice guy and I know that he’ll be plastering a smile on his face as he walks toward the woman. I do trust him, but I don’t trust her one bit. She wants what’s mine and there isn’t a damn thing I can publicly do about it.
If anything, that’s what I needed to forget all about my anxiety and to concentrate on the woman who needs to get a life...and not with my guy.
With the auditorium now filled, it’s difficult to hear what’s being said other than a few mumbles. I quickly glance behind and watch as they disappear through the door. Sawyer quickly looks in my direction and winks so briefly that I barely catch it.
Smiling at the class, I quickly place the microphone over my head and start the class on the History of Shakespeare. It’s a topic that I know inside out and even when I’m freaking out on the inside, I’m still able to teach the class, which I do now.
The hour goes quickly once I clear my mind and the students really enjoy the five-second quiz. The quiz is something that one of my high school teachers used to do and we all used to find it fun. Basically, I shout out a question that’s been referred to during the lesson and they have five seconds to give me an answer. Sometimes I slip in something that doesn’t apply; music, films, food, cities, and the list goes on.
I love doing the interactive part because it takes a huge focus off me directly and puts it back on them. There are a few students who always sink in their seats when I announce five-seconds so knowing how that feels, I leave them be. I shouldn’t, but I can’t bring myself to call on them.
By the time the students trickle out of class, I’m in need of a cool drink, which I’d forgotten to pack this morning.
Collecting my notes together and making sure nothing is being left behind, I glance up and see Jeremy staring at me from the seat at the front of the room.
I’m surprised. “You’ve been absent.”
“Home for a long weekend,” he drawls. “Like you, huh?”
I tip my head to the side and watch him wondering what he’s referring to, even though I have a sick feeling that I know.
Collecting my purse, I move down the few steps and sit next to him. “My mom had a baby shower, so yeah I went home. It was a good weekend.”
“I bet it was,” he hisses, looking away. “Did Professor Lawrence have a good time as well?” He laughs. “Of course he did.” Jeremy turns and glares on his last words.
My heart sinks and I feel sick that he’s seen me with Sawyer. “Where?” I whisper the question.
“The airport.”
I frown because we’d stayed apart at the airport here, just to be safe.
“I saw him first and was about to go and talk to him when I realized that his gaze was focused on someone at Starbucks. You.” He pauses. “I’ve noticed him watching you a few times, and I’ve noticed you watching him, so I decided to keep my presence unknown and wait.” Jeremy turns to face me. “You purchased two drinks and when you turned you walked directly to him and passed him a drink. Oh, it looked all innocent, but the looks you gave each other weren’t.”
I face away and push my panic down, and ask, “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
My eyes snap up to his. “Really?” I frown.
He offers me a sad smile. “He’s the reason why you kept turning me down.” He shakes his head. “I saw it that night you finally agreed to go out for dinner with me, but I told myself that I was being stupid.”
“I feel sick that I led you on by accepting that night. The thing is that I do really like you, but, my heart has belonged to Sawyer since I met him...I’m sorry Jeremy. Really I am.”